This study evaluates the use of nebulized hypertonic saline (aerosolized salt water) as a preventive treatment for post-traumatic acute lung injury (ALI). Both animal and human research indicate that aerosolized salt water might help reduce harmful inflammation with minimal risks.

death within 28 days [ Time Frame: 28 days or discharge ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]

If the rate of death within 28 days for this patient population is less than 50% the expected rate for every 5 patients based on our clinical trauma database over the past 5 years, a DSMB review will be triggered.

Denver lung MOF score will be measure daily until discharge or 28 days, which ever is first. For every 5 patients, if the rate of lung dysfunction for this patient population is less than 50% the expected rate based on our clinical trauma database over the past 5 years, a DSMB review will be triggered.

ventilator-free days (VFD) [ Time Frame: baseline and 28 days or discharge ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]

Ventilator free days will be tracked with 28 days as a reference. If the number of VFDs for this patient population is greater than one standard deviation of the predicted value for every 5 patients based on our clinical trauma database over the past 5 years, a DSMB review will be triggered.

Denver MOF score will be recorded daily until discharge or 28 days, which ever is sooner. for every 5 patients, if the rate of MOF for this patient population is greater than one standard deviation of the predicted value for every 5 patients based on our clinical trauma database over the past 5 years, a DSMB review will be triggered

The first 5 patients will receive 3% Nebulized hypertonic saline, the second 5 patients will receive 4.5% Nebulized hypertonic saline, the third group 6% Nebulized hypertonic saline, and the fourth group of 5 patients will receive 7% Nebulized hypertonic saline. The nebulizer is dosed 2-3 times a day for 36 hours.

Drug: Nebulized hypertonic saline

The first 5 patients will receive 3% hypertonic saline in a nebulizer, the second 5 patients will receive 4.5% nebulized hypertonic saline, the third group 6% nebulized hypertonic saline, and the fourth group of 5 patients will receive 7% nebulized hypertonic saline. The nebulizer is dosed 2-3 times a day for 36 hours.

Detailed Description:

Despite over 40 years of investigation, acute lung injury (ALI) remains a leading cause of morbidity in critically ill patients, and a disease for which there is no effective pharmacologic therapy. Our group and others have focused on the anti-inflammatory effects of intravenous hypertonic saline (HTS) acting on the injured endothelium with promising results experimentally, but failed to confirm the benefit clinically. Recent work, however, has shown that inhaled or nebulized HTS targeted at the epithelium is safe and effective in treating cystic fibrosis, COPD, and neonatal bronchiolitis. Recognizing the central role of the pulmonary epithelium in ALI, nebulization has the advantage of achieving high concentrations of the therapy without producing systemic side effects. Thus, we hypothesize that nebulized hypertonic saline will attenuate acute lung injury following trauma.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years and older

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

adult > 18 years of age

trauma with a 9 ≤ NISS ≤ 36

≤10 units of RBC in the first 6 hours (as this is a major risk factor for ARDS and MOF in this population)

mechanical ventilation for at least 1 day based on a standard resuscitation protocol

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Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01667666